Improvement in journal or shaft hangers



ll. WHITAKER.

Journal 'dr Shaft-Hangers. y

NO 1452IL Patented Dec'. 2,41'873.

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` for ascertaining the quantity UNITED STATES PATENT EErc.,

JOSEPH WHITAKER, OF WOONSOOKET, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO SIMEON S.COOK, OF SAME PLAGE.

` IMPROVEMEN'I IN JOURNAL OR SHAFT HANGERS.

Specication forming part of Letters Patent No. 145,264., dated December2, 1873 application filed October 22, 1873.

To all whom fit may concern.'

Be it known that I, J OsEPH WHITAKEE, of Woonsocket, in the county OfProvidence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain Improvementsin Journal or Shaft Hangers, of which the following is a specication:

Figure l of the accompanying drawing is a front view, and Fig. 2 is acentral vertical transverse section, Of a journal box and hanger with myinvention attached.

This invention has for its object to provide for the public aconvenient, economical, and effective device for-supplying oil to thereservoir of a self-lubricating journal box or hanger, which shall, atthe same time, constitute means and quality of the oil containedthereon, and for emptying the Oil therefrom when desired; and, to theseends, my invention consists in providing the Oil-reservoir with a benttube, a portion Of which is constructed of transparent material, saidtube being adapted to turn on the reservoir and perform the threefoldfunctions of a supply-tube, an oil-indicator, and a dischargetube, as Iwill now proceed tO describe.

In the drawings, A represents a journal Or shafting box formed with avacuum passage, B, and supported within a bearing or hanger, C, formedwith a bottom lubricating reservoir or receptacle, D. Opening from andprojecting outward and upward fromV the lower portion Of the receptacleD is an indicator formed by a metal or other elbow-tube, E, whichreceives, at the top, a glass Or other transparent vertical tube, F,provided with a suitable adjustable cap, G, extending over its top end.This tube F extends as high as the bottom of the shaft or journal, or ofsufficient height to indicate the full quantity of oil required. Theindicator, if preferred. may be formed wholly of a glass, ri ght-an gledor other suitably-shaped, transparent tube, properly connected with andOpening, at the end Of its horizontal or lower portion, into thelubricating-receptacle of a journal or shaftin g box or hanger. Theelbowtube E may be cast or otherwise is connected to the oil-receptacleD by a screw-thread or other suitable means, so that, by a half-turn OneWay, the receptacle D may be emptied, and, by a half-turn the other Way,the tube be brought in position to refill the receptacle and indicatethe condition of the Oil therein.

The Operation Of my invention is as follows: The cap of the indicatorbeing removed, the lubricating matter is introduced through its top intothe receptacle D, from which it is supplied to the desired parts by therotation of the shaft, between Which and the box a vacuum, passage, Orchamber is formed to induce the upward passage of the lubricatingmatter.

It is necessary that the Oil should be maintained at or near a certainposition; and heretofore, to ascertain Whether or not the Oil was at thedesired position, it was necessary to visit the hanger, remove the capor cover, and, if required, ren'll the receptacle and replace the cap,and so on through the entire lot of hangers in use, thereby occupyingmuch time and labor.

By my improvement it is only necessary to glance at the indicator and atOnce ascertain the condition Of the lubricating matter, which, it' needbe, is readily increased without disturbing the box or bearing by merelyremoving the small cap of the tube, which is done with but little lossof time or labor.

Having thus fully described my improvements, what I claim as myinvention, and desire to have secured to me by Letters Patent, is-

The combination of the glass indicator or feed-tube F with' the movableelbow-pipe E and oil-box having reservoir D, substantially as shown anddescribed.

In testimonywhereof I have signed myname to this specicat-ion in thepresence of two subscribing Witnesses.

JOSEPH WHITAKER.

IVitnesses:

S. S. COOK, EDWIN ALDRICH.

